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11/18/2005:

"Protests hit Pacific Rim summit"

Riot police have fired water cannon at stone-throwing protesters marching on the summit of 21 Pacific Rim leaders in South Korea.
Stalled global trade talks are topping the agenda of a two-day summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) members, meeting in Busan.

Some members have criticised the EU as an obstacle to progress and free trade.

There has also been a setback for Washington as South Korea revealed plans to withdraw troops from Iraq.

The South Korean parliament still has to make a decision but proposals are to pull out about a third of its 3,000 troops in Iraq.

The news comes a day after US President George Bush thanked South Korea for its help with the reconstruction of Iraq.

America was also the target of the thousands of slogan-chanting protesters outside the summit. Farmers are against proposals to allow in more imports of foreign rice and shouted: "No to Bush, No to Apec. No to foreign rice imports."

Two farmers are reported to have killed themselves by drinking herbicide, leaving suicide notes blaming the rice market plans.

Police surrounding the summit were forced to block the demonstrators with shipping containers and drive them back with water cannon. More than 30,000 riot police are on duty in the port city and a naval blockade is protecting the seafront conference centre where the leaders are gathering.
bbc.co.uk